Tattoo marker



March 31, 1931. J DWEKEY 1,798,729

TATTOO MARKER Filed Oct. 3, 1 928 Off/06777 02:

. A panying drawings,

Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITEDTSTATES PATENT OFFICE HARVEY J. DIVEKEY, orAnn-one, ILLINOIS TATTOO MARKER Application filed Qctober 3, 1928.

My invent-i011 relates to tattoo markers and c 5 other animals, and oneof the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved andsimplified structure for such purpose.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tattoo marker inthe form of a hand stamp.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved tattoopoints which will penetrate the outside layers of the skin withoutblemishing the flesh and therefore without injuring the birds oranimals.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a tattoo marker inwhich the tattoo points are rigidly connected to a single handle tofacilitate operation of the marker and to provide a single rigidstructure having no relatively movable parts so that the marker will notbecome broken or come apart and therefore its tendency to get out oforder by long continued use willbe reduced to a minimum.

Afurther object of the invention is the provision of a resilient pad orcushion through which the tattoo points project and beyond which theyextend, whichpad or cushion shall be impervious to the tattoo ink so asnot to absorb the same, but to hold and collect such ink for transfer tothe tattoo points upon operation of the tattoo marker.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novelfeatures and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying .drawings Fig, 1 is a sectional elevational viewshowing my improved tattoo marker approximately twice its actual size;and

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the tattoo marker and theimpervious pad associated therewith.

Referring more particularly to the accom- 3 designates a metal Serialno. 310,090.

handle provided with a stamping block 4 which may be integral with themetal handle The stamping block 4 is provided with a rectangular flatsurface 5. The handle 3 and stamping block 4 may be made of iron orsteel,

nickel-plated, or chromium-plated, or such handle and stamping block maybe made of other rust-resisting material.

Cast into the stamping block when the latter is formed, are a pluralityof cylindrical tattoo markers v6 and for this purpose each of thecylindrical markers may be provided with a notch 77 near its lower end,as shown in Fig. 1, so that the metal of the block 4 may seat itself insuch notches 7 and lock the markers 6 permanently in place and rigidlyconnected to the block 4 so as to virtually become apart thereof.

The markers 6 when cast into the block 4 are arranged in the form ofletters, numerals, or other identification marks. The identificationmark illustrated in Fig. 2 is B27, but, of course, the user of thetattoo marker illustrated in the drawings may be provided with anyarrangement desired, but each. hand stamp is permanently provided with adefinite and predetermined set of identification marks which alwaysremain in permanent and rigid connection with the stamping block.

The markers 6 may be made of tool steel and plated to resist rust. Themarking points 8 are designed so as to be suiiiciently sharp to easilypenetrate the skin of the poultry or animals suificiently deep to effectproper tattoo marking, but the conical surfaces 9 are so sloped as to besufliciently blunt to prevent plane extending through the base of thecone and the sloping side of the cone equal to approximately 52 or theangle between the sloping side of the cone and the vertical axis of thecone equal to approximately 38.

A resilient pad 10, preferably of rubber or p other material imperviousto the tattooing ink, is provided of a size to fit the rectangularsurface 5 of the stamping block 4 and may be placed in the positionshown in Fig. 1 by pressing a blank pad onto the points 8 so that therubber will be penetrated and permitted to slip over the cylindricalpins 6 to the seat 5. It should be particularly noted that the pad 10should not be of material which would absorb the tattoo ink, because itis desired that the ink shall remain on the pins 6 which project fromthe pad 10. In other words, by reason of the pad 10 being impervious tothe ink, the latter will not be drawn away from the points 8, but willpermit to flow by gravity the ink from the pad surface to the points 8when the stamp is held vertical. The pad 10 may be of variousthicknesses and may be readily removed and renewed. The pad may be usedto regulate the distance of penetration by contacting with the skinwhich yields to pressure. The pad 10 therefore also keeps the hard metalstamping block from coming in contact with the skin of the bird oranimal when the tattoo marker is used. The thickness of the pad 10 willtherefore depend upon the particular use to which the tattoo markershown is to be applied.

It should be particularly understood, however, that while the marking.points 8 are sharp and of tool steel, the conical surfaces 9 arecomparatively blunt so that the points 8 will penetrate only through theepidermis or outer layer of the skin so that the ink will be carriedunder the skin and becomes indelibly imbedded therein, but the points donot enter the muscles or flesh of the bird or animal. The handle 3, theblock 4, and the pins 6 beingall substantially one rigid structure,cannot come apart or become broken and being in the hand stamp form thedevice is very easy to operate with accurate regulation of the pressurewhich is just sufficient to effect proper identification of the propertywithout causing any injury thereto.

The ink may be in the form of a stick of Chinese tattoo ink which isharmless, but permanent. A few drops of water may be placed in a cleansaucer and the stick-ink rubbed on the saucer to help dissolve it, usingjust enough of the stick-ink to make a good black mixture. This mixtureis then applied by means of a brush to the points 8, the conicalsurfaces 9 and those portions of the pins 6 which project from the pad10 with a sufficient amount on the pad 10 adjacent the pins 6 to'serveas a partial reservoir for the tattoo ink to flow from to the points 8during continued use of the marker.

The tattoo marker may be used on any part of the body of the bird oranimal, but it is especially easy to use the. marker under the wings ofchickens or other poultry, in the web or feet of ducks and geese, and inthe ears of rabbits, foxes, cattle, swine, sheep, dogs, etc. After thetattooing has been effected by means of the tattoo marker someadditional stick-ink mixture may be applied to the punctured holes andrubbed into the same and subsequently a damp clean sponge used to washoff the surface of ink-fluid.

It should also be particularly noted that it is important to avoidfrightening the birds or animals, as well as to avoid injuring them. Nolevers of any kind are used in the tattoo marker tending to multiply thepressure applied and applying such pressure too suddenly, but the simplehand stamp form shown in the accompanying drawings assures the easyhandling of the tattoo marked with an initial gentle pressure, slowlyand gradually increased until sufficient to puncture to the required anddesired extent, thereby enabling the operator of the tattoo marker tomore easily handle the poultry or animals while calm and relaxed.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and Iwish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction hereindisclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of my invention, what I desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tattoo marker, the combination with a stamping block, of ahandle therefor, a plurality of spaced-apart tattoo markers cast rigidlywith said block for permanent rigid connection thereto, and interlockingmeans between said markers and block to prevent substantial movement ofthe markers relative to said block in the event that the markers becomeloose in their mounting.

2. In a tattoo marker, the combination with a holder, of a plurality ofcylindrical tattoo pins, and points on said pins formed by conicalextensions of said pinswith the sloping surfaces of the conesapproximately at 52 with the plane of the base of the cone.

3. In a tattoo marker, the combination with a holder, of a plurality ofspaced-apart tattoo markers carried thereby, and a pad of resilientmaterial impervious to the tattoo ink and fitting over said markers withthe latter projecting therefrom.

4. In a tattoo marker, the combination with a stamping block having aseat, of a handle for said block, a plurality of pointed tattoo markershaving notches in their end ortions remote from the points and cast intosaid block for rigid connection therewith, and a rubber pad perforatedby said markers and fitting over the same against said seat.

5. A tattoo marker comprising a stamping block, a plurality of tattoomarkers cast rigidly with said block, and interlocking means betweensaid markers and block to prevent substantial movement of the markersrelative to said block in the event that said markers become loose intheir mounting.

6. A tattoo marker comprising a marker, a plurality of tattoo markerscarried thereby and a pad of material impervious to the tattoo ink andfitting over said markers with said markers projecting therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this18th day of September, A. D. 1928.

HARVEY J. DIVEKEY.

